Dear John,

It’s been another wild week in America. On Saturday, July 13th, a Republican shot Donald Trump at a rally. So this last Friday, our news digest covered Trump’s role in escalating political violence in America.

If you didn’t just fall out of a coconut tree, you’ll know that two days later, Biden stepped down from his presidential campaign, endorsing his VP, Kamala Harris to take his place.

The elephant (donkey, I suppose) in the room is what that means for TakeActionMN’s ongoing organizing for a ceasefire in Gaza, and the Uncommitted campaign.

So here’s what we’re thinking, (re-)reading, (re-)watching, and (re-)listening to this week. (it’s long, it’s intense, and it’s some of the most important political news you’ll read this week)

1. Some background on Uncommitted 

When we started organizing for a permanent ceasefire, our motives were twofold, as articulated by our co-executive director, Elianne Farhat:

First, and most clearly: “save lives by achieving a ceasefire”.
The Biden administration’s continued support of Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza is unconscionable, and we had to speak up and take action.
Second, “save our democracy by helping beat Trump in swing states where Democrats must win”.
Another truth lurked near the surface even then, and has emerged fully in the nearly year since. Biden’s refusal to stand up to Netanyahu has proven electorally disastrous. If the Democratic Party is not swayed from the path Biden has set, it risks losing the enthusiasm of volunteers and the support of key blocks of voters.

Uncommitted voters aren’t fighting the Democratic Party; we’re fighting for it. Uncommitted voters aren’t divesting from democracy; we’re participating in it. We’re not trying to move voters away from the Democratic Party; we’re trying to move the Democratic Party closer to voters it might otherwise lose, and who are critical to defeating Donald Trump this November.

2. The current state of Uncommitted 

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into where the Uncommitted campaign is now, check out this short explainer video!

3. Renewed energy to beat Trump

By this time last week, amidst dropping poll numbers and increasing concerns about his candidacy - concerns raised by the Uncommitted movement months ago - Biden dropped out of the race. Kamala has taken over his presidential campaign. What does that mean?

For starters, the renewed sense of energy for the Democratic Party is already visible, with record-breaking Zoom calls and fundraising hauls. A lot of us are breathing an exhausted sigh of relief, knowing that our own communities had been experiencing flagging confidence in and support for Biden, and we’re feeling a sense of momentum that we haven’t felt in quite some time.

4. The Democratic Party is in a state of re-aligning

Kamala will be looking to establish her own presidential campaign strategy, messaging, and platform.

That makes now - especially the three weeks between now and the Democratic National Convention - a key moment for pressure to fundamentally reshape what the Democratic ticket campaigns on over the next 3 months.

That’s why we are continuing our calls for an arms embargo on Israel and a permanent ceasefire. We generally try to keep calls to action out of the News Digest, but in this one case, we are asking our members to sign on to this letter, calling on presidential candidate Kamala Harris to distance herself from Biden’s disastrous policy of arming Israel’s ongoing genocide and occupation in Palestine.

By signing this letter, you would not be alone, because…

5. A ceasefire represents the will of the Democratic base

Seven unions representing nearly half of all union members in the United states have called for a ceasefire.

Hundreds of thousands of voters voted Uncommitted, including 19% of Minnesotan primary voters.

Yesterday, progressive representatives and organizers came together to call for a ceasefire.

And 86% of Democrats support a ceasefire.

6. Kamala is no Joe Biden

Kamala may be Biden’s vice president, but if we go back to the 2020 primary, the two spelled out two quite different visions for the Democratic Party.

Kamala sparred with Biden over desegregation, said she would eliminate the filibuster to pass a Green New Deal, and called for an end to the War on Drugs.

7. Momentum is already building

We started writing this email on Monday, but as of yesterday, Kamala Harris had publicly called for an end to the “War in Gaza”, such that “the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. This is a good first step, and a sign that the pressure is working. 

As Layla Elabed said on CNN, "What we're seeing is an encouraging shift in tone away from Biden's current policy...but her shift in policy must include an end to weapons funding to Israel now carrying out war crimes against Palestinians."

It’s been one hectic month, and it’ll be a long three months (and ten days) of holding our breath, but together we can organize towards the future we deserve. 

Until next time,

Mattias Lehman (he/him)
Narrative and Communications Director